Rapid Fire: 2010-09-21

• US GAO looks at “hybrid warfare,” and its implications for Pentagon planning.

• Across the Pond: French, British defense firms divvy up US biometrics and intelligence services firm L-1 Identity Solutions for a combined $1.6 billion.

• US Army sends PEO Soldier engineers into field – to use the gear they’re supplying the Army. Bravo.

• Bristol Alloys charged with falsifying documents re: heat-treated metals used in Virginia Class nuclear fast attack submarines. The company is cooperating. On another front, the Navy still doesn’t know why large swatches of sound-absorbing tiles are peeling off of Virginia Class boats.

• Sikorsky’s X2 demonstrator hits 250 knots true airspeed in level flight, offering V-22 class speed in a compound helicopter.

• Known and Unknown: Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discusses his career and tenure at the Pentagon in his memoir titled Known and Unknown due out in January.

• Eurocopter begins flight testing its new Tiger HAD scout and attack helicopter.

• Nice Paint Job: North Korean military manual allegedly smuggled out of the country indicates military uses radar-absorbing paint to disguise jet fighters, warships, and tanks. Nothing like that fairy dust…

• US Navy moves up orders for double-hulled oil tankers to keep Northrop Grumman from closing its Avondale shipyard and available to complete work on 2 LPD-17 class San Antonio-class amphibious assault ships – LPD-23 and LPD-25.

• X-ray Vision: American Science and Engineering gets $10 million order to provide service and maintenance for its Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) military trailers that detect explosives in vehicles and cargo.

Mexico Orders Eurocopter’s EC725 Helicopters

EC725 Cougar

In March 2009, Mexico became the EC725 Cougar’s 2nd export customer, thanks to a Mexican Ministry of Defense order for 6 helicopters. Mexico followed Brazil, who became the EC725’s first export customer with a $1.1 billion order for 50 machines to equip its Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Mexico’s medium-lift helicopters be used for transport and civil security missions as well. Despite the understated terms, these are primarily military helicopters that will address a military problem. In 2010, the order was doubled…